Prosthodontics & Occlusion · patient case question
What would you expect to observe on the hard splint of a bruxist?
Patient case: Bruxist requiring a posterior crown and a splint
Patient: Adult with established parafunction
Chief complaint: Requires a crown; already wears a hard occlusal splint.
Background: Long-standing bruxism. Wears a hard acrylic splint nightly.
Current findings: Generalised occlusal wear. The splint is presented for review.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Wear facets and crack lines in the acrylic
- A. Staining alone does not account for the mechanical effect of parafunction.
- B. Acrylic does not soften at oral temperatures.
- C. CORRECT. The splint is designed to be the sacrificial surface. Parafunctional loading produces flat, polished WEAR FACETS corresponding to the excursive pathways, together with crack and craze lines in the acrylic. The pattern of wear is itself a diagnostic record of the patient's parafunctional movements.
- D. An absence of wear in an established bruxist suggests the splint is not being worn.
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